Internal-combustion engine



July 24, 11%23. 1,4162%48 G. BERRY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed S gp 2. 1921 ESheets-Sheet 1 Jufly 24, 11923. KIA-62,848

G. BERRY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Sept. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jully 24, i923;

Filed Sept. 2. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gines gentially Patented July 24, 1923.

GASPARD BERRY, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed September 2, 1921. Serial No. 498,089.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. I,

To all whom it may cmwem:

Be it known that I, GASPARD BERRY, a citizen of the Swiss Confederation, residing at 256 Avenue de Tervueren, Brussels, Belgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion En- (for which I have filed application in France, July 27, 1918, Patent Number 498,061; France, Oct. 3. 1919, additional Patent Number 22,601 France, Oct. 22, 1919, additional Patent Number 22,619; Belgium, July 5, 1920; Sept. 24, 1920; Germany, July 20, 1920; Oct. 2, 1920; England, July 10, 1920; Oct. 2, 1920; July 10, 1920; Switzerland, July 5, 1920; Oct. 1, 1920; Italy, July 8, 1920), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary internal combustion engines of the drum type.

Known internal combustion engines of this type, having crescent-shaped chambers, generally have an outer, concentric drum and an inner eccentric c linder or hub, or viceversa, split longitudlnally to pass a fixed or movable vane dividing the outer drum into two unequal parts, the vane receiving the driving fluid. This arrangement 0 the cylinder or hub has for a result to form one crescent-shaped chamber or a plurality of such chambers. The vane divides each of the crescent-shaped chambers into two parts so that the part of each chamber, on one side of the vane opens when the vane is rotating, while the part on the other side closes.

The rotary internal combustion engine according to the present invention is characterized by three drums of different sizes two of which at least are mounted on ball bearings and of which the central drum is the smallest one, all the drums being arranged in such a way, that the inner faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the outer faces of the bases of the central drum and the outer faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the inner faces of the bases of the outer drum, and that the inner circumference of the middle drum abuts on one side tangentially against the outer periphery of the central drum and on the opposite side with its outer periphery tanagainst the inner circumference of the outer drum so as to enable a single piston to effect a four stroke lution.

Another feature of the invention is that the drums are driven by a hollow piston fixed on a hollow shaft.

Still another feature is that an obturator working absolutely automatically is fixed on a rockable joint member central drum, that is mounted eccentrically.

Another feature of the invention is that the engine operates without valves, the admission and the exhaust port being constantly open, thus enabling the engine to attain an extraordinary speed.

Owing to the special arrangement of the three drums instead of one drum and a cylinder as in the known engines, the explos on may take place at 30 while the expansion can attain 270 to 330. On the contrary, in the known engines the explosion and the expansion generally take place at 180. Another drawback of the known engines is that the compression will never rise above 21} atm. while it will reach at least 5 atm. in the present engine.

From the preceding it will be seen that the main feature of the engine, according to this invention, is that it always has three drums; an exterior, a middle and a central one, whilst the known than one drum combined with a cylinder.

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of the engine taken substantially on the plane indicated by lines (3-1) in Fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line AB Figure 1.

Figures 3 to 8,, both inclusive, show the relative positions a single revolution.

As shown in Fig. 1, the motor comprises a casing wherein rotatably mounted -is a shaft 10. On this shaft are placed within each other three drums 12, 13 and 1a rotating on ball-bearings 29, 28, and 27 The drum 12 has the same axis of rotation as the shaft 10 while the axes of rotation of the drums 14 and 13 are eccentricwith re gard to the one of the shaft 10, so that the middle drum 13 rests with a generatrix of its outer cylindrical surface a inst the drum 12 and with a generatrix 0 its inner cylindrical surface against the drum t. In this cycle in a single revo-' provided in the engines never have more way are formed two crescent-shaped chambers, an outer and an inner one. The rotating piston 26 is rigidly fixed to the shaft 10. It traverses the drums 14 and 13 across rocking joint members 11 and is provided with a slide 17. This slide also traverses the two rocking joint members 11 and its outer end is combined with the drum 14 in such a way as to turn with it. The shaft 10 has a central conduit 9 connected to the carburetor of which 25 is the fuel entrance and 9 the air entrance. This conduit 9 extends into the piston 26 and ends in the chamber 2. On its outer end, the piston is provided with an aperture 16 and the slide 17 has an aperture 16; 7 is a slide-way provided in the drum 12 and wherein the slide 17 can move; 8 is a spark plug and 24 the magneto.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that on effecting a counter-clockwise rotary movement, the piston 26 which is secured on the hollow shaft 10 and on the concentric exterior drum 12 passes through the two inner drums 13 and 14, each of which is provided with a rockable 'oint member 11 in order to ensure fluid tig tness and to permit of efficient action. The fuel is admitted to the hollow shaft 10 and the hollow piston 26 and the products of combustion escape through an opening 6 in the exterior drum 12. It will be seen from the drawing Figure 1 that neither of these openings is provided with a valve. The drums 13 and 14 are provided with packing blades 15 which ensure fluid tight contact between the respective drums.

An automatic obturator 17 is provided which is mounted on the rockable joint member of the central drum such automatic obturator acting to open and close the passage or opening 16 in order to permit of the com pressed gas passing from the crescent shaped chamber 1 to the crescent shaped explosion chamber 4. The obturator 17, Figure 1, is fixed to the rockable joint member 11 of the inner drum 14. Both, the obturator and the rockable joint member 11 slide along the piston 26 moving at each rotation from and towards the centre, owing to the piston being fixed on the concentric axis, while the obturator is fixed on the rocking member 11 of the inner eccentric drum. 7 is a housing enabling the obturator to move up and down.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the obturator still keeps the passage 16 closed until the moment is pases the normal to the outer drum 12 and to the middle drum 13. At this moment the obturator will be in a position in which the aperture 16 of the obturator will be just opposite the aperture of the piston causing the end of the compression chamber to communicate with the beginning of the explosion chamber so that the compressed gases pass from one chamber into the other one, while the piston is advancing and, when it has reached the end of the compression chamber (inner crescent), all the compressed gases are in the outer crescent. At this moment the aperture 16 of the obturator has again approached the centre, as well as the rockable joint member of the central drum, so that the passage 16 for the gases in the piston is closed a ain until the next revolution and so on. alance Weights 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 are also provided.

Figure 2 shows the manner of mounting the three drums 12, 13 and 14 of different diameters on their respective ball bearings and on the fixed frame 5. It will thus be seen that the central drum is disposed in the middle drum and that the latter is arranged inside the outer or exterior drum in such a way that the inner faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the outer faces of the bases of the central drum and the outer faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the inner faces of the bases of the outer drum and that the inner circumference of the middle drum abuts on one side tangentially against the outer circumference of the central drum and on the opposite side with its outer periphery tangentially a inst the inner circumference of the outer (from. Figure 2 also shows how the admission pipe or connection 9 passes through the axis of the piston. The suction compression chambers 2 and 1 and the explosion exhaust chambers 4 and 3 are of crescent form.

The action of the engine is as follows, reference being made to Figures 3 to 8, both inclusive, of the 'drawing.

These figures show the three drums in cross section and also show the two chambers of crescent form the interior crescentshaped chamber being the admission-compression chamber and and the exterior crescent-shaped chamber being the explosion-exhaust chamber. The construction and arrangement of the engine is such that the piston 26 efiects a four-stroke cycle in one smgle revolution and functions simultaneously in both crescent-shaped chambers. In the suction period, Figure 5, it is assumed that the engine has started to rotate counterclockwise by means of any suitable automatic starting device. The piston (Figure 4) at this moment is normal to the point 'of contact of the drums 13 and 14, that is to say, the piston is at a dead int. In Figure 5 the piston has rotated s ightly from this point thus creating a vacuum behind it and consequently drawing in fuel into the crescent-shaped chamber wherein the partial vacuum is created. The first period of admission is thus efi'ected. As the piston continues to rotate the vacuum increases and more fuel is gradually admitted behind the piston (Figures 5 to 8) until the piston messes reaches the end of its rotation or stroke in this chamber, that is to say, the position shown in Figure 4.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show how the admission of fuel is effected and how the piston in its forward rotation increases the vacuum behind it. Figures 7 and 8 show the admission of fuel as being nearly complete and F igure 4 shows the position wherein the admission of fuel has completely finished. At this moment the interior crescent-shaped chamber (admission-compression) is therefore filled with gas.

In the second period, namely, the compression period, the piston compresses the gas in front of it in the interior chamber. If reference be made to Figure 5 it will be seen that the piston has just left its position where the two drums 14 and 13 are in contact so that the piston sucks in the fuel behind it required for the following revolution, whilst it compresses in front of it the gas which has been previously drawn It will thus be seen that the piston effects the two strokes simultaneously in the suction-compression chamber, that is to say, it draws in behind it the gas for the following revolution, and compresses in front of it the gas drawn in by the preceding revolution.

When the piston 26 is at the dead point on the tangent of the exterior chamber (F igure 3) the gases are compressed in front of the piston in the interior crescent-shaped chamber. On further rotation of the piston in a counter-clockwise direction and at or about the time when the piston has left the position shown in Figure 3, the obturator 17 opens the passage through the piston (Figures 7 and 9) and opens up co mmunication between the end of the interlor crescent-shaped chamber which contains the compressed gas and the beginning of the exterior crescent-shaped chamber.

en the piston reaches the normal to the interior crescent-shaped chamber, the automatic obturator closes the passage shewn open in Figure 4 after the gases have passed from one chamber to the other. Figures 7 and 8 thus show how the gases pass when the passage is open and Figure 4 shows how the obturator again closes the passage. So far it has been explained how admission of the fuel is effected and how the said fuel is compressed. Further, it has also been shewn how the gas passes from one chamber into the other.

In the third period, namely, the explosion stroke, the explosion is produced either b y means of a spark plug or by means of a wire which is constantly maintained incandescent. It has already been explained (Figure 4) that the compressed gas has passed into the beginning of the crescentshaped explosion chamber and that the obturator has closed the passage. At this moment the explosion is produced behind the piston which is forced forwardly and the expansion stroke or driving period continues until the piston has reached the end of its stroke in the exterior crescent-shaped chamber, that is to say, until the piston has reached the dead point in respect of this chamber such point being indicated in F igure 3.

In the fourth stroke, namely, the period in which the escape of the products of combustion takes place, the driving force is exerted behind the piston and the products of combustion are expelled in front of the piston, such products of combustion being those of the preceding revolution.

This is effected by the exhaust opening passing the tangential point of contact and reaching the explosion chamber which is filled with burnt gas, the escape of the burnt gas continuing gradually as the piston advances until the said piston again reaches the tangential point of contact indicated in Figure 3. At this point the burnt gases are completely expelled and the escape opening has made one complete revolution.

An engine constructed as hereinbefore described and provided with a piston such as shown, effects a four-stroke cycle in a single turn, that is to say, the piston draws in the fuel behind it into the interior crescentshaped chamber simultaneously compressing in front of it the gas in the interior chamber, whilst the explosion is produced behind the piston in the exterior chamber and the burnt gases are expelled in front of the piston from the exterior chamber.

aving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In an internal combustion engine of the drum type having crescent-shaped chambers, the combination of three drums of different lengths and diameters of. which the central one is the smallest one, the inner faces of the bases of the middle drum abutting against the outer faces of the bases of the central drum and the outer faces of the bases of the middle drum abutting against the inner faces of the outer drum, the inner circumference of the middle drum abutting on one side tangentially against the outer periphery of the central'drum and on the opposite side with its outer periphery tangentially against the inner circumference of the outer drum and a single piston bar effecting a four-stroke cycle in a single revolution.

2. In an internal combustion engine of the drum type having crescent shaped chambers, the com ination of three drums of difierent lengths and diameters of which the central one is the smallest one, the inner faces of the bases of the middle drum abutting against the outer faces of the bases of the central drum and the outer faces of the bases of the middle drum abutting againstthe inner faces of the exterior or outer drum the inner circumference of the middle drum abutting on one side tangentially against the outer periphery of the central drum and on the opposite side the outer periphery tangentially against the inner circumference of the outer drum, a hollow concentric rotating shaft and a. hollow piston fixed on the said shaft driving the rotary drums.

3. In an internal combustion engine of the drum type having crescent shaped chambers, the combination of three drums of different lengths and diameters of which the central drum is the smallest one, means for supporting said drums so that the inner faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the outer faces of the bases of the central drum and the outer faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the. inner faces of the bases of the outer drum and that the inner circumference of the middle drum abuts on one side tangentially against the outer periphery of the central drum and on the opposite side, with its outer periphery tangentially against the inner circumference of the outer drum, a hollow concentric shaft, a hollow piston fixed on the said shaft driving the rotary drums, a rockable joint member provided on the eccentrically mounted central drum and an automatic obturator for the piston fixed to the said rockable joint member.

4. In an internal combustion engine of the drum type having crescent-shaped chambers, the combination of three drums of different lengths and diameters of which the central drum is the smallest one, said drums being arranged 80, that the inner faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the outer faces of the bases of the central drum and the outer faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the inner faces of the bases of the outer drum and that the inner circumference of the middle drum abuts on one side tangentially against the outer periphery of the central drum and on the opposite side with its outer periphery tangentially against the inner circumference of the outer drum, a hollow concentric shaft, a hollow piston fixed on the said shaft driving the rotary drums, a rockable joint member provided on the eccentrically mounted central drum and an automatic obturator for the piston fixed to the said rockable joint member, a constantly open fuel opening in said shaft and a constantly open exhaust port in the outer drum.

5. In an internal combustion engine of the drum type having crescent shaped chambers, the combination of three drums of different length and diameters of which the central drum is the smallest one, ball bearing supporting means for said drums, said drums being supported so that the inner faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the outer faces of the bases of the central drum and the outer faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the inner faces of the bases of the outer drum and that the inner circumference of the middle drum abuts on one side tangentially against the outer periphery of the central drum and on the opposite side with its outer periphery tangentially against the inner circumference of the outer drum, a hollow concentric shaft, a hollow piston fixed on the said shaft dIlV- ing the rotary drums, a rockable joint member provided on the eccentrically mounted central drum and an automatic obturator for the piston fixed to the said rockable joint member, a constantly open fuel opening in the shaft and a constantly open exhaust port in the outer drum.

6. In an internal combustion engine of the drum type having crescent shaped chambers, the combination of three drums of different length and diameters of which the central drum is the smallest one, said drums being mounted so that the inner faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the outer faces of the bases of the central drum and the outer faces of the bases of the middle drum abut against the inner faces of the bases of the outer drum and that the inner circumference of the middle drum abuts on one side tangentially against the outer periphery of the central drum and on the 0pposite side with its outer perpihery tangentially against the inner circumference of the outer drum, ball bearing sup rting means for the two inner drums, a ho ow concentric shaft, a hollow piston fixed on the said shaft driving the two rotary drums, a rockable joint member provided on the eccentrically mounted central drum and an automatic ob turator for the piston fixed to the said rockable joint member, a constantly open fuel opening in the shaft and a constantly open exhaust port in the outer drum.

The foregoing specification signed at Brussels this eighteenth day of Au t, 1921.

GASPARD B RRY. In presence of NEIL,

F. Y. Zavonr. 

